Don't sleep on Week 8 just because there are only two games between ranked opponents on Saturday.
There's still plenty to pay attention to, especially when you consider that an unranked team with a losing record in conference play is favored over a top-15 team. There's a lot of potential for surprise. Here are this week's games to watch.
No. 6 Indiana at Michigan
Saturday's game vs. the Hoosiers is one of three remaining games Michigan has against opponents currently in the top 10 of the AP poll. The Wolverines also have a mid-November trip to Oregon.
Yeah, this one is a must-win for any hope the Wolverines have of making the College Football Playoff.
Freshman Tommy Carr is set to get his first start for Michigan after taking over for Bryce Underwood in the second half of Michigan's 21-18 win over Penn State in Week 7. The Wolverines scored all 21 points after Carr entered the game and he rushed for what turned out to be the game-winning score.
Just how much faith will head coach Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator Jason Beck put in Carr's ability to throw the ball downfield? Michigan has scored 21 or fewer points against all non-UTEP opponents this season. The Wolverines are going to want to control the ball and try to win a low-scoring game.
But this is an Indiana team that's incredibly well-equipped to beat Michigan at that type of game. The Hoosiers are potentially a play away from being 7-0 after Nick Marsh couldn't get his left foot in bounds on what would have been the game-winning TD catch last week against Ohio State. Would you have trusted Ohio State to get a field goal after that with Julian Sayin out?
Indiana is also set to get RB Khobie Martin back from injury as no one is listed on the Hoosiers' Wednesday injury report. That's a big deal. Martin hasn't played so far this season and will be a nice supplement to an efficient rushing attack after rushing 78 times for 505 yards in 2025.
No. 11 Tennessee at South Carolina
Your eyes aren't deceiving you. The Gamecocks are favored to win this one.
It doesn't take much to see why. Tennessee is coming off a massive home win over a rival and is starting an inexperienced quarterback. George MacIntyre was 21-of-31 passing for 197 yards and an interception in the Vols' 26-10 win over Alabama. But Tennessee's offense had to kick four field goals before scoring a touchdown. That was a game that could have been won by four scores.
If you want to try to figure out South Carolina, go for it. The Gamecocks are scoring 38 points per game but allowed 41 to Mississippi State and 49 to Alabama. Florida was the first SEC opponent that didn't score at least 35 points against USC.
Was that game a turning point? LaNorris Sellers was 23-of-35 passing for 279 yards and four touchdowns while also adding another score on the ground. It was the best game he's played since the end of the 2024 season.
No. 7 Ole Miss at No. 19 Texas
It's not hyperbole to say that this could be the turning point in Texas' season and possibly even Steve Sarkisian's tenure. A loss to Ole Miss puts Texas in a position of winning its last five games to even have a chance at the College Football Playoff.
And the Longhorns will be the first to tell you that 9-3 is far from a guarantee. Last year, Texas was 9-3 and didn't make the 12-team field.
The offense has been incredibly frustrating and unfulfilling. According to Team Rankings' database, Texas' 5.2 yards per play ranks 92nd among 138 teams at the top level of college football. That's 12th in the SEC.
Arch Manning is averaging exactly as many yards per pass attempt (7.8) as he did in 2025 and completing a greater percentage of his passes. But his interception percentage has increased from 1.7% to 3% and the Texas offense is worse at running the ball than it was in 2025. Even after adding Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers, Texas is averaging just 3.6 yards per run play.
The Ole Miss run defense had been a sieve early in the season. But the Rebels allowed just 103 yards on 37 carries in a blowout win over Vanderbilt and then absolutely stopped Missouri's run game and Jamal Roberts. The Tigers had just 39 yards on 26 attempts.
There should also be more time for Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss in the pocket with the absence of Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons. If Texas can't get pressure on Chambliss without the most productive pass rusher in the country, Chambliss could pick apart the Texas defense.
No. 16 USC at Wisconsin
Wisconsin's three-game win streak came crashing to a halt in Week 7 with a 17-7 loss at UCLA. Wisconsin's offense was dreadful as Colton Joseph was just 6-of-16 passing and the Badgers only rushed for 148 yards. Its 49 plays were the fewest the offense has run all season.
Are the Badgers going to need a defensive or a special teams score to keep up with USC?
The Trojans haven't scored fewer than 25 points per game all season and have broken 30 five times in seven games. Yes, Penn State's in a bad spot right now halfway through Matt Campbell's first season, but Jayden Maiava was incredibly efficient in State College in Week 7. Maiava was 21-of-33 passing for 301 yards and three scores.
And the USC defense even stiffened up too. Penn State rushed for just 68 yards. It was the first time in five games that a Trojans opponent hadn't broken the 100-yard mark on the ground.
No. 14 Houston at No. 10 Utah
Welcome to the second pivotal game of the season in the Big 12. BYU, Houston, Texas Tech and Utah have separated themselves from the pack, especially after Houston's Week 7 home win over Oklahoma State.
Whichever team wins on Saturday night will have a massive advantage heading into November. Texas Tech already beat Houston in Week 3 and avoids both BYU and Utah this season. The Cougars of Provo meet the Utes on Nov. 7. A second Big 12 loss for Houston could eliminate it from Big 12 title contention.
Former Texas A&M Conner Weigman is again having a stellar season for the Houston Cougars with 20 TD passes and just two interceptions. Weigman is completing nearly 68% of his passes and has also added six rushing touchdowns. Former Tulane and Oregon RB Makhi Hughes leads the Cougars with 464 yards rushing and Re'Shaun Sanford II is close behind with 440.
The Utes sleepwalked through a lazy win over Colorado in Week 7 but remain unbeaten. Devon Dampier isn't far behind Weigman with 18 total touchdowns and No. 2 QB Byrd Ficklin is averaging nearly 7 yards a carry. How much are we going to see them both on the field Saturday night?
Other games to watch
No. 8 Texas Tech (-10.5) at Cincinnati (Noon ET, FS1): This game would have a lot more intrigue if Brendan Sorsby was on the field. But it's still one of the biggest tests remaining for a Texas Tech team that has only one ranked opponent (No. 25 Arizona) remaining on its schedule. Cincinnati can put up points, and this Texas Tech defense hasn't shown that it's as good as it was a season ago.
Oregon (-8.5) at Illinois (3 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network): Dante Moore is out again for the Ducks so they will rely on Dylan Raiola again. Raiola came off the bench in the Ducks' comeback win over Nebraska in Week 7. Illinois is without starting QB Katin Houser and is in danger of missing a bowl altogether with Nebraska, No. 9 UCLA, No. 15 Iowa and No. 24 Northwestern all looming in November.
Virginia Tech at Clemson (-2.5) (7 p.m. ET, ESPN): Can either the Tigers or Hokies put themselves in the thick of the ACC race? If you're handicapping Miami's challengers, Wake Forest leads with SMU close behind and everyone else a distant third. But Clemson moves to 3-1 in the conference with a victory and a relatively easy schedule remaining.
UTSA (-2.5) at Tulane (8 p.m. ET, ESPNU): The Roadrunners might be the American's only hope of getting a team in the College Football Playoff this year. Every other team in the conference has at least two losses and Tulane is sitting at 3-3 after losses to Duke and Kansas State to open the season. The Green Wave just took down Memphis in Week 7, however.
North Dakota State at New Mexico (-3.5) (10 p.m. ET, The CW): Is this an early Mountain West title game preview? Remember, Boise State is in the Pac-12 now. The Bison have met the FBS challenge with aplomb so far and New Mexico's only loss came in a 14-6 game at Oklahoma. The Lobos have not allowed an opponent to score more than 18 points all season. There's a reason why this over/under is at 41.5 points.